The Frangipani Tree Mystery
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-10-03 06:53:49
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Ovidia Yu
- ISBN：1472125207
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
First in a delightfully charming crime series set in 1930s Singapore， introducing amateur sleuth SuLin， a local girl stepping in as governess for the Acting Governor of Singapore。
1936 in the Crown Colony of Singapore， and the British abdication crisis and rising Japanese threat seem very far away。 When the Irish nanny looking after Acting Governor Palin's daughter dies suddenly - and in mysterious circumstances - mission school-educated local girl SuLin - an aspiring journalist trying to escape an arranged marriage - is invited to take her place。
But then another murder at the residence occurs and it seems very likely that a killer is stalking the corridors of Government House。 It now takes all SuLin's traditional skills and intelligence to help British-born Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy solve the murders - and escape with her own life。
1936 in the Crown Colony of Singapore， and the British abdication crisis and rising Japanese threat seem very far away。 When the Irish nanny looking after Acting Governor Palin's daughter dies suddenly - and in mysterious circumstances - mission school-educated local girl SuLin - an aspiring journalist trying to escape an arranged marriage - is invited to take her place。
But then another murder at the residence occurs and it seems very likely that a killer is stalking the corridors of Government House。 It now takes all SuLin's traditional skills and intelligence to help British-born Chief Inspector Thomas LeFroy solve the murders - and escape with her own life。
Reviews
Lauren Fleming
，
Took me awhile to get into it but I appreciated the story and am interested in reading more in the series。
Laurie
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I really like Ovidia Yu’s Aunty Lee series。 This one is also quite good。 It is interesting to get the more historical view of Singapore and the characters were great。
inge
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Brilliant！ Now to find the next book in the series。
Amy K。
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Immensely readable and engaging and immersively detailed， this period murder mystery is simply fantastic。 Brilliant narrative POV。 Lovely wry and observational humor。 Real heart。
Shea
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I enjoyed the whodunnit part although Su Lin can be quite exasperating at times。 Enjoyable book if one can overlook the racial stereotypes。
Mike Finn
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The Frangipani Tree Mystery is set in Singapore， then a British Crown Colony， in 1936。 It is pretty much a perfect cosy mystery and with an original voice， a novel historical setting and a lot more excitement than I’d expected。The main character SuLin is sixteen years old， the granddaughter of a powerful Singaporean woman who is the de facto ruler of her son’s not-always-strictly-legal businesses。 Like her grandmother， SuLin is sharp and independent but she carries the stigma of being the unluck The Frangipani Tree Mystery is set in Singapore， then a British Crown Colony， in 1936。 It is pretty much a perfect cosy mystery and with an original voice， a novel historical setting and a lot more excitement than I’d expected。The main character SuLin is sixteen years old， the granddaughter of a powerful Singaporean woman who is the de facto ruler of her son’s not-always-strictly-legal businesses。 Like her grandmother， SuLin is sharp and independent but she carries the stigma of being the unlucky granddaughter because both of her parents are dead and she has a permanent limp as a result of childhood polio。 She has had an education， speaks fluent English and dreams of avoiding the marriage her family is arranging for her and becoming a journalist。Through a series of events， SuLin finds herself under contract as a housekeeper to the man running the local British Police but， before she can take up her post， the governess of the Acting Governor’s only daughter dies suddenly， and SuLin is roped in to fill the gap until a white governess can be hired。SuLin comes to believe that the governess was murdered and sets about finding out by whom。What I liked most about the mystery was the mirror that it held up to the way the English Colonial Class thought。 Initially， the arrogance and casual racism of the Governor’s family is presented as amusing。 For example， here is how SuLin describes an attempt by the Governor’s wife， Lady Palin， to compliment her about how well she is looking after her step-daughter:“Lady Palin didn’t try to hide her relief: ‘Thank you。 It’s such a pity you’re not one of us。 You would have made a good teacher – or mother。’ For a woman who did not set out to be offensive， Lady Palin certainly managed it。'”As the novel progresses and the secrets the Lord and Lady Palin are guarding become known to SuLin， the tone becomes darker and SuLin is placed in danger。The passage where the senior police officer warns SuLin of the danger she is in resonated with me。 He explained to her that the Palin’s were very good with people but that the Palin’s didn’t regard her or him as people but rather as useful accessories， as disposable as a horse or a gundog。 I think this shows a very clear understanding of how the British Empire worked。 It seems to me that it’s a mindset that’s shared by our present government。I had a lot of fun with the book。 It was cleverly done。 The mystery was straightforward but the resolution was more complex and more satisfying。 It was original enough to feel fresh and stimulating while still being familiar enough and gentle enough to be soothing。It also laid the foundation for an intriguing series。 I will definitely be back to find out what SuLin does next。 。。。more
Steve
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As an introduction to SuLin， LeFroy， and the colonial Singapore setting， this works。 The characters， and SuLin's polio-weakened leg and cultural roles rise over the mystery。 3 ½ stars rounded up because I already bought the next book in the series。 As an introduction to SuLin， LeFroy， and the colonial Singapore setting， this works。 The characters， and SuLin's polio-weakened leg and cultural roles rise over the mystery。 3 ½ stars rounded up because I already bought the next book in the series。 。。。more
victor
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pretty good book， i liked the mystery and 1930s singapore setting。 for a second i thought they were setting up a romance between the detective and su lin， but i was relieved that didn't end up happening （in this book at least） pretty good book， i liked the mystery and 1930s singapore setting。 for a second i thought they were setting up a romance between the detective and su lin， but i was relieved that didn't end up happening （in this book at least） 。。。more
Roshni
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Set in Singapore during the 1930s， this book follows a young female protagonist trying to navigate the cultural， economic， and gender power disparities of her world。 Easy and entertaining read。
Ram Kaushik
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Set in 1930s colonial Singapore， this series features a spunky protagonist struggling to make a name for herself in a tough environment。 Very readable。
Megan
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After reading Yu's Aunty Lee books （which I found to be pleasant enough， but without a ton of depth） I took a chance on this series and was pleasantly rewarded by something that had more impact。 Set before and during WWII， the historical aspects of the novel and the introspection regarding the protagonists place in the events was both interesting and thought provoking。 After reading Yu's Aunty Lee books （which I found to be pleasant enough， but without a ton of depth） I took a chance on this series and was pleasantly rewarded by something that had more impact。 Set before and during WWII， the historical aspects of the novel and the introspection regarding the protagonists place in the events was both interesting and thought provoking。 。。。more
Emily
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Singapore。 1930s British Colonial Empire。 Malaysian-Chinese main character。 Cozy mystery slash historical fiction。
Sandy
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Very promising start to a new series。 The heroine is the epitome of plucky， with a bad limp from polio and a realistic attitude towards the racism of the day。 Good mystery with interesting plot， characters and setting。 On to the next one。
Genevieve
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Charming， and with characters and a setting I love， but the writing is a little rough to the point where I found some things hard to follow。
Jodie
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4。5 stars
Emilie
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I liked Su Lin and her busy family。 Having read the first five books， I'll comment that Su Lin chooses the *worst* female role models。Su Lin encounters much prejudice from the Palin family， and other white people， but she's created a sort of facade of ignoring it， and doesn't let the expected racism get to her。 She learns a lot from family members who forget she's there when they have discussions。Su Lin is hired to replace a recently deceased nanny for an intellectually disabled 17-year-old youn I liked Su Lin and her busy family。 Having read the first five books， I'll comment that Su Lin chooses the *worst* female role models。Su Lin encounters much prejudice from the Palin family， and other white people， but she's created a sort of facade of ignoring it， and doesn't let the expected racism get to her。 She learns a lot from family members who forget she's there when they have discussions。Su Lin is hired to replace a recently deceased nanny for an intellectually disabled 17-year-old young woman。 There are frequent comments that the young woman， Dee-Dee， is seven years old mentally， but in the body of a 17-year-old。 I've heard parents say things like that in the present day， but I think that description was likely more universally used in the 1930s。Su Lin has a good idea of what 7-year-old Singaporean children are capable of， and tries to get Dee-Dee up to that standard， or at least of doing small tasks and taking care of herself。As KJ Charles points out， there are a few rapid POV switches， and I noticed some dialogue sequences that didn't end with a period。 However， I enjoyed the book。 。。。more
Kathy Chung
，
Finally completed my 1st book for the year。 Been in a reading slump。This book have been in my to read list for very long。 Ovidia Yu did not disappoints。 Again she painted a vivid Singapore in the old days。 I like the character Chen Su Lin。 Story wise was good 。 Pace was fast enough to keep me interested。Only the ending feels a bit too shocking。 Nevertheless， I look forward to reading more books from this series。
Stephanie Prichard
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Thoroughly enjoyedAn enjoyable protagonist who can’t be rattled… Until reality hits the fan at the end of the book。 I look forward to reading about her next adventure in the next book。
VJRetailTherapy
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Interesting characters， place in time， and locale。 Will read the next in the series and see if the characters continue to grow and remain interesting。
Kate
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While reading this novel I realized I know absolutely nothing about Singapore。 I had to do a little web searching to understand certain references。 Although this book won't teach the reader much about the country， it's definitely a great read。 We're immediately introduced to our protagonist Su Lin， an aspiring young journalist trying to avoid an arranged marriage。 Her mission school tries to get her a domestic position with an inspector。 Due to a rapid series of events， Su Lin becomes the nanny While reading this novel I realized I know absolutely nothing about Singapore。 I had to do a little web searching to understand certain references。 Although this book won't teach the reader much about the country， it's definitely a great read。 We're immediately introduced to our protagonist Su Lin， an aspiring young journalist trying to avoid an arranged marriage。 Her mission school tries to get her a domestic position with an inspector。 Due to a rapid series of events， Su Lin becomes the nanny for the acting governor's daughter to investigate the suspicious death of the former nanny。 While Inspector LeFroy officially investigates the nanny's death， Su Lin investigates from inside the home。 Even though I was able to work out most of the mystery fairly early on， the story was very enjoyable。 Both intelligent and independent， Su Lin is a great protagonist to follow in a mystery novel。 This book has inspired me to read more historical mysteries， especially ones that aren't set in Britain。 。。。more
Sally
，
An entertaining easy readIn the same canon as Alexander McCall-Smith （Ma Ramotswe） and Colin Cotterill （Dr Siri） a good way to easily break a reading drought。 Su Lin is a girl who is determined to forge her own path， rather than accept one that's chosen for her by tradition， fate， or colonial expectations。 Neither too sinister or gory， a perfect light summer read。 An entertaining easy readIn the same canon as Alexander McCall-Smith （Ma Ramotswe） and Colin Cotterill （Dr Siri） a good way to easily break a reading drought。 Su Lin is a girl who is determined to forge her own path， rather than accept one that's chosen for her by tradition， fate， or colonial expectations。 Neither too sinister or gory， a perfect light summer read。 。。。more
Sonia
，
The story takes place in 1930s Singapore。 A young orphaned woman Su Lin graduating from a Mission School wants more than just being a wife or a housekeeper。 She really wants to be journalist but turns out she is a great detective。 Su Lin's wits and smarts triumphs over the racist ways of white colonialism by the dying British empire。 The story takes place in 1930s Singapore。 A young orphaned woman Su Lin graduating from a Mission School wants more than just being a wife or a housekeeper。 She really wants to be journalist but turns out she is a great detective。 Su Lin's wits and smarts triumphs over the racist ways of white colonialism by the dying British empire。 。。。more
Kathryn Burwash
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The first novel in the Su Lin series。 An unusual， but delightful protagonist; Su Lin is a teenage female Singaporean of Chinese descent。 She finds herself unexpectedly in the centre of a mystery。 Adaptable， intelligent， and independent she not only solves the mystery， but takes a big step in fulfilling her dream of working outside the home。 Set in Singapore in 1936 when the British Crown Colony is in political turmoil before the start of WWII。
Satomi
，
1930s Singapore setting was very interesting。 I had no previous knowledge and did not know what to expect， it intrigued me very much。 I want to read on the series， but I am kind of hesitant at the same time， as Japan had started invading some Asian countries in 1941。 As a Japanese， if that is incorporated in the story， I would be not enjoying the cozy mystery as it is。 The mystery of the story itself is a kind of predictable， but how it revealed mixed in the society’s background was fascinating。
Andrea
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This is a murder mystery set in Singapore's recent Colonial past。 I really enjoyed the narrator's personality， and valued the author's insight into Singapore society and customs。 I've happily signed up to read the next one in the series （something about a Betel Nut？） and added Ovidia Yu to my list of Authors To Follow。 This is a murder mystery set in Singapore's recent Colonial past。 I really enjoyed the narrator's personality， and valued the author's insight into Singapore society and customs。 I've happily signed up to read the next one in the series （something about a Betel Nut？） and added Ovidia Yu to my list of Authors To Follow。 。。。more
Gretchen
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I'm not really sure how I feel about this book。 Of course I saw the end coming from a mile away。 It wasn't subtle。 Sometimes that's just fine。 If the rest of the story is compelling enough I don't mind figuring out how it's going to end。Not the case here。 I don't really know how to describe the writing。 Choppy is the first word the comes to mind。 Things were suppose to be told from a first person point of view but sometimes without warning in the middle of a paragraph， the view point felt like i I'm not really sure how I feel about this book。 Of course I saw the end coming from a mile away。 It wasn't subtle。 Sometimes that's just fine。 If the rest of the story is compelling enough I don't mind figuring out how it's going to end。Not the case here。 I don't really know how to describe the writing。 Choppy is the first word the comes to mind。 Things were suppose to be told from a first person point of view but sometimes without warning in the middle of a paragraph， the view point felt like it flipped。 I found myself going back and re-reading several passages multiple times。 I'm honestly a little disappointed since this is a time and an area that I would love to read more about。 。。。more
Phil Butcher
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First in a gentle mystery series set in 1930s colonial Singapore。 The main character is well drawn and the ending sets up the series well。 Very enjoyable。
Connor
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thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery， looking forward to the rest of the series
Tessa
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Very enjoyable mystery， with lots of details about life in Singapore in the early 1930's。 I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series。 Very enjoyable mystery， with lots of details about life in Singapore in the early 1930's。 I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series。 。。。more
Dayangku Nuraini Wahed
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